Help Branch’s Bring Back The Twist Ice Cream

Branch's Story

Branch’s is a minority women-owned family business. We are a cherished staple in our Harrisonburg community, serving our award-winning soft serve ice cream since 2014. We bring smiles and sweet treats to ice cream enthusiasts far and wide. Founded over a decade ago by the Branch family. Branch's was born to help keep our family together by working together, and from a love of ice cream and the desire to spread joy through our delicious, creamy delights. We have become a beloved fixture at JMU Sports Games, Bridgewater Community Little League Softball/Tball Games, East Rockingham High School Football Games, local events, festivals, weddings, corporate events, and neighborhood gatherings, and we are known for our friendly service and, most importantly, our signature twist soft-serve ice cream.

This season, we were excited to open our doors and share new flavors and experiences with our loyal fans. However, an unforeseen challenge has put a damper on our plans, and we are reaching out to our community for help.

Why We Need Your Help

As the ice cream season kicked off, we discovered a significant issue: both of our trusted soft-serve machines had developed holes in their barrels. These machines are the heart of our operation, and their wear and tear have finally caught up to us. The breakdown means we've lost the ability to serve our classic twist soft-serve, a fan favorite that blends vanilla and chocolate into a delightful swirl.

Currently, one machine can only produce vanilla, while the other manages chocolate, leaving our customers craving the iconic twist they love. Without the twist option, we risk disappointing our loyal fans who have come to expect this sweet treat from us.

To make our dream a reality, we need your help to generate $16,400 to help get our twist soft serve ice cream back. The funding will go toward:

Free Ice Cream Fund (for kids & their families facing financial barriers)

New Taylor 754 Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine: $10,900

Installation and Setup: $500

Maintenance and Warranty: $2,500

Marketing and Promotion for the Relaunch: $500

Ice Cream Truck & Generator Fuel: $2,000

Help Us Bring Back The Twist

Your generous pledges can help us bring back the twist soft-serve ice cream to Branch's Menu. By contributing to our GoFundMe campaign, you will play a vital role in restoring our ability to serve the delightful twist that has become synonymous with Branch's.

We found a New Taylor C754 soft-serve machine for $10,900. Your pledges will ensure that we can continue to be a beloved presence at all your favorite events, from weddings to local fairs, with our full range of flavors, including the cherished twist. We are committed to maintaining the high standards that our fans expect, and our new machine is a crucial step in that commitment.

What You Get In Return

We are not asking for a handout, but a hand up! With your help, we will get our beloved twist soft serve ice cream back, leave no child behind by creating the Free Ice Cream Fund, and satisfy your child within

We deeply appreciate every pledge, as it strengthens our bond with the community and fuels our passion for what we do. With your help, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity to serve you even better, bringing smiles to the faces of young and old with each cone of creamy, swirled perfection. Together, let's make this dream a reality and keep the tradition of Branch's Soft Serve Ice Cream Truck alive and thriving for many more years to come.

Stretch Goal - Community Free Ice Cream Fund

25% of any additional funds raised above our goal will be dedicated to creating a Free Ice Cream Fund. This community fund allows us to offer our services for free to families facing financial barriers.

With this fund, we will bring the ice cream truck into low-income neighborhoods and serve free ice cream cones. Your contribution will directly support this effort, helping us bring the love for soft serve ice cream to even more people, regardless of their circumstances.

Services Offered

Branch's Soft Serve Ice Cream Truck is more than just a mobile ice cream vendor; we are a part of the Harrisonburg community.

Our services include:

How Your Donation Can Make a Difference

Your contribution, no matter the size, will directly impact our ability to meet these needs. Here are specific ways your donation can help:

$10: This amount helps cover the cost of marketing materials.

$50: Your contribution aids in fuel costs

$100: Your donation will help with installation and set up of the new machine, ensuring we can serve you our delicious ice cream promptly.

$500: Your donation funds a portion of the warranty and maintenance, which is crucial for the long-term reliability of our new machine. 22 ice cream enthusiasts donating this amount would secure our machine!

$1,000: A substantial contribution that brings us closer to purchasing the machine. Only 11 supporters at this level, our beloved twist will be back on the menu.

$2,000: If only 5 devoted fans contribute this amount, the return of our twist ice cream machine will be within reach.

$3,000: A contribution at this level from just 3 fans will nearly complete our journey to bringing back the twist.

$5,000: Only 2 supporters are needed at this level to revive our twist offering.

$10,000: A single generous donation at this amount will pay for our new ice cream machine.

How to Help for Free

We understand not everyone can contribute financially, and that’s okay! We want to create opportunities for everyone to support, no matter how you share your energy, gifts, or enthusiasm.

Please consider sharing our GoFundMe campaign on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with your friends, family, and network. You can easily share our campaign via GoFundMe by clicking the share button on the top right of the page.

Word of mouth and genuine excitement can make a world of difference! Simply telling 5 friends, family members, or co-workers who might enjoy the Branch’s Soft Serve Ice Cream Truck – whether through text or a direct message on social media – is incredibly impactful. Your support in spreading the word means everything!

Facebook & Instagram Tags:

@branchssoftserveicecream

@branchssoftserveetc

More Ways You Can Help

Next Steps

We need your support to make this dream a reality. The ice cream season is short, and every day without our twist soft-serve is a missed opportunity to bring happiness to our community.

We aim to raise the necessary funds within the next month to ensure we can continue participating in all scheduled events and to delight our fans all season long. We believe everyone deserves to enjoy award-winning soft serve ice cream. That is why we are creating the Free Ice Cream Fund for kids and their families facing financial barriers.

Please consider supporting our GoFundMe campaign to Help Bring Back The Twist & to support our Free Ice Cream Fund. Your pledges will not only help us overcome this challenge but will also keep the joy of Branch's Soft Serve Ice Cream alive and thriving.

Together, we can make sure that our signature twist soft-serve ice cream continues to bring smiles and sweetness to our community. Thank you for your support!